Clothes washer having a siphon-actuated flood control arrangement

ABSTRACT

A recirculating-type domestic clothes washer has an open top water container for containing water and washing agent in which clothes are washed. A perforate spin basket is inside the water container and includes an agitator which is driven by a prime mover means beneath the water container. Water is supplied from a conduit having its terminus in an upper portion of the water container. A fluid control system prevents water from overflowing the water container in order to prevent contamination of the water supply in the upper part of the water container and the prime mover means beneath the water container. The fluid control incorporates a siphon having one portion connected to the water container at its predetermined fill level and another portion adapted for communication with a remote drain and having a bight portion at a level limiting the uppermost level of water in the water container.

11] 3,785,181 "[451 Jan. 15, 1974 CLOTHES WASHER HAVING ASIPHON-ACTUATED FLOOD CONTROL Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Attorney-F. M. Ritchie ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventor: Melvin A. Menk, Dayton,Ohio [57] ABSTRACT A recirculating-type domestic clothes washer has an[73] Ass'gnee' 5:2 :53 x1 22 Corporanon open top water container forcontaining water and washing agent in which clothes are washed. A perfo-22 Filed: Ma 10 1972 rate s in as et 15 msi e t e water container an in-[l y, p. i

cludes an agitator which is driven by a prime mover [2]] Appl. No.:252,107

means beneath the water container. Water is supplied Related US.Application Data from a conduit having its terminus in an upper portion[63] Continuatiommpart of No 89,826, 16, of the water container. A fluidcontrol system prevents 1970, abandone water from overflowing the watercontainer in order to prevent contamination of the water supply in the52 vs. C]. 68/208 pp p the g e Container e Pa [51] Int. Cl. D06f 39/08mover means eneat t 6 Water contalnef- 58 Field of Search 68/208 controlincorporates a siphon having one Portion nected to the water containerat its predetermined fill 56 References Cited level and another portionadapted for communication UNITED STATES PATENTS with a remote drain andhaving a bight portion at a 3,604,225 9/197l Douglas 68/208 l g s gi theuppermost level of water m the water 2,986,913 6/1961 Condit et al.68/208 X 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures a, Y r f, U z# I 0000:: o 00 i; N 100000 x ooo li 55 efl f t n oaai I' I 1 Ill l l 5. T fifv'i w l I y \A 1.W :q

i e "i fee-4t 4' I "f I!" if #9 ii CLOTHES WASHER HAVING ASlPHON-ACTUATED FLOOD CONTROL ARRANGEMENT This is a continuation-in-partof my copending application Ser. No. 89,826, filed Nov. 16, 1970, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to a clothes washing machine and, moreparticularly, to a flood control system there fore.

A serious concern in the design of clothes washers is the possibility offlooding. Flooding, in this context, means the water overfilling of thetub and water container. Such flooding can occur because a timer sticksand fails to advance out of the fill position. A pressure switch mayfail in the case of pressure fill machines. A washer may fail to pumpout a previous fill of wash water befoe a subsequent fill is initiated.This could occur if: a pump is blocked; there is a suds-lock in thewater handling system; a drain hose is kinked or blocked; or the usermanually skips the pump-out portion of a cycle when moving to a fillcycle. Probably most serious in the way of malfunctions is a water valvewhich fails to shut off. This invention is directed to a simple siphonarrangement for protecting the clothes washer and its surroundings inthe event any of the foregoing malfunctions occur.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a clotheswasher with a siphon arrangement for controlling flooding therein.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a flood controlarrangment which protects from flooding both the water supply means andthe prime mover means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a domestic clothes washer provided withthe flood'control arrangement of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the invention.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIG. 1, adomestic clothes washer is shown generally at 10. The washer includes abox-like sheet metal casing 12 having a top wall 14. The top wall has arecessed portion 16 including an access opening 18 which is exposed whentheaccess door is open.

Casing 12 is shown to enclose a nested tub assembly 24. The assemblyincludes an open-top, imperforate wall container 26 and a perforate wallspin basket 28. Perforations are coextensive with the cylindrical sidewall of the spin basket. An annular plastic subtop 30 is sealinglyclamped to the open top of the water container 26. The subtopcircumscribes the open top of the water container and extends over a rim33 forming the top opening of the spin basket 28 to define an accesscollar 36 between the access opening 18 of the cabinet and the topopening of the spin basket.

The tub assembly 24 is mounted on a suspension system shown generally at40 and more fully taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,118 granted Feb. 3,1970. The tub assembly includes an agitator 44 which with the spinbasket 28 is connected to a drive mechanism shown generally at 46. Thedrive mechanism may be of a rollerdrive type taught more fully in U.S.Pat. No. 3,087,321 granted Apr. 30, 1963. In general, mechanism 46 maybe operated in one manner to vertically reciprocate or oscillate theagitator 44 for washing clothes in the tub assembly. When the mechanismis. operated in another manner, the spin basket 28 is rotated withrespect to the water container 26 for centrifuging washing fluid fromthe clothes in the spin basket. For additional details on theconstruction of the tub assembly 24, reference may be had to copendingapplication Ser. No. 55,813, filed July 17, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No.3,663,975, and commonly assigned with this application.

A conventional water recirculation system will now be described. Thewater container 26 includes a bottom outlet or sump 47 in addition tothe open top access opening 36. A recirculating pump 48 withdrawswashing water or liquid from the water container 26 through the bottomoutlet 47 and by means of recirculating conduits or hoses 49 and 50returns the washing liquid to the water container. The purpose ofrecirculation is to remove lint and other sediment or particulate matterfrom the recirculating washing liquid.

A conventional drain system for the clothes washer includes a drain pump52 for pumping washing liquid from the water container 26 thorugh itsbottom outlet 47 and by means of drain conduits; or hoses 54 and 55 to aremote drain or standpipe 56.

Both the recirculation pump 48 and the drain pump 52 are operated by acommon reversible power shaft 57. The shaft is driven by a belt takeoff58 from a reversible motor 59 of drive mechanism 46. When the drivemechanism is operating in a manner to reciprocate the agitator 44, thepower shaft 57 is rotated in a direction to cause the recirculation pump48 to recirculate washing liquid. When the drive mechamism 46 isoperating in a manner to rotate the :spin basket in a centrifugingoperation, the power shaft 57 is reversed to cause the drain pump 52 topump the washing liquid to drain.

The fill system for the clothes Washer 10 comprises a combination valve60 adapted for connection with a hot water line 62 and a cold water line64. The valve 60 is adapted to supply either hot, cold, or mixedtemperature water to a supply conduit 66 leading to an outlet 68overlying the opening 36 inthe subtop at a level beneath the highestoverflow edge of the open top 70 of the water container 26. Theperipheral fill system described in the aforementioned copendingapplication is also suitable for use with this invention. I

The clothes washer 10 may be controlled in an automatic cycle by meansof a conventional timer 76.

The timer is connected to the valve 60 to govern a predetermined clotheswashing cycle including periods of wash water fill and rinse water fill.The timer is also connected to the drive mechanism 46 to selectivelyreciprocate the agitator 44 after periods of wash fill and rinse fill,respectively, for agitating articles to be washed while water isrecirculated by pump 48. The timer connection with the drive mechanism46 also effects a spinning of the spin basket 28 to centrifuge washwater and rinse water from the tube assembly 24. During spinning, pump52 operates in accordance with the timed cycle to pump centrifuged waterfrom outlet sump 47 on the bottom of the water container through hoses54, 55 to remove the centrifuged water to drain 56.

In the event that water is supplied to the tub assembly 24 to the pointwhere it overflows the open top 70 of the water container 26 (stuckvalve 60 or kinked hose 55), the overflow would submerge the end of thewater supply outlet 68 and, running down the outside of the watercontainer 26, could fall on the drive mechanism 46. This situation couldresult in a contamination of the water supply and a contamination of thedrive mechanism by shorting the drive motor 59. This invention isdirected to a flood control system to prevent the occurrence of thissituation.

Turning now to the schematic view of FIG. 2, tub assembly 24 is shownprovided with the siphon-actuated flood control arrangment of thisinvention. The flood control system 84 comprises an imperforate tubemember 86 separate from the recirculation and drain systems and formedinto a siphon having a suction leg 88 in communication with portion 90of the water container 26 at a position at the normal maximum fill levelA supplied by the water supply valve 60. A drain leg 92 is adapted tocommunication with a remote floor drain at a position below theconnection of the suction leg 88 at 90 with the water container. Thetube 86 has a bight portion with its highest point 96 positioned at theflood level B which is predetermined by design to be at a level belowthe open top 70 of the water container and the lowest point of the watersupply nozzle 68.

In operation where any malfunction results in a water fill raisingthrough the flood level B which coincides with the highest point 96 ofthe siphon tube 86, a siphoning action will be initiated to reduce thelevel of water in the water container 26 to the level of the connection90 of the suction leg to the water container. The siphon tube may directthe water away from the clothes washer thus protecting the washer frommajor damage. The diameter of tube 86 and the siphon inlet 90 or thesiphon outlet 93 may be selected for the rate of drain and thecontrolled minimum water level in the tub during a flooding period.Siphoning will stop if water flowing through tube 86 cavitates. Thus,tube diameters selected should be such that the tube will flow full ofwater once siphoning starts. As an alternative to selecting a propertube diameter, the drain leg 92 may include a flow restrictor 100therein to prevent the tube from cavitating and breaking the siphon.Preferably, a suction leg is connected to the water containersufficiently high that the amount of potential flooding at floor levelis minimized.

If a connection 102 of the suction leg 88 is made to the drain outlet47, the water container 26 normally will be completely emptied. This isundesirable. But

'even with this connection, complete emptying of the water container maybe prevented by placing a small hole (0.090-0.100 inch diameter) indrain leg 92 3 to 4 inches below the bight portion 96 of the tube. Then,and with siphoning flow sufficiently restricted, water level will dropin water container 26 to the level of the hole at which point air willbe sucked into the tube through the hole and siphoning will stop due tocavitation. The outlet 90, however, is preferred in that siphoning isnot affected greatly by over-sudsing and clothes load sizes and filllevels.

This invention allows for simple modifications within the flood controlsystem. Some of these are: (a) maximum water level in the tub withoutoverflow; (b) fastener drainage at the tub through selection of tubesize; (c) variable water level limits in the water container duringflooding; and (d) choice of the tube connection with the water containeralong the side and bottom thereof. Splashing within the tub assemblyalso does not create an inadvertent actuation of the siphoning action.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycleincluding washing and rinsing operations, an open-top container forretaining water therein for articles to be washed, said container havinga bottom sump, first pump means connected to said open-top and saidbottom sump and operable in accordance with said automaticallycontrolled cycle for recirculating liquid to said container, second pumpmeans connected to said bottom sump and operable in accordance with saidautomatically controlled cycle for removing liquid from said containerto a drain, prime mover means underneath said container for effectingthe washing of articles in said container and for operating selectivelysaid first and second pump means, water supply means including a conduitextending to an overlying position within an upper portion of saidcontainer below the open top thereof, said water supply means adapted bysaid automatically controlled cycle to supply water to said container ata predetermined fill level below the overlying position of said watersupply means, a flood control system for said washing machine to preventthe overflow of water from said container during said washing andrinsing operations and thus the contamination of said water supply meansand said prime mover means by said overflow of water, said flood controlsystem comprising a tube member separate from said first and second pumpmeans and formed into a siphon having a suction leg in communicationwith a lower portion of said container at said predetermined fill leveland a drain leg adapted for communication with a remote drain at aposition below the level of communication of said suction leg with saidcontainer, said tube member having a bight portion with its highestpoint positioned at a flood level above said predetermined fill leveland below the overlying position of said water supply means, thereby todrain said container by siphoning to lower the level of water therein tosaid predetermined flll level whenever a malfunction of saidautomatically controlled cycle effects a supply of water to saidcontainer at said flood level, said drain leg including flow restrictormeans to prevent the tube member from cavitating and breaking the siphonwhen said container is draining by siphoning.

2. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycleincluding washing and rinsing operations, an open-top container forretaining water therein for articles to be washed, said container havinga bottom sump, first pump means connected to said open-top and saidbottom sump and operable in accordance with said automaticallycontrolled cycle for recirculating liquid to said container, second pumpmeans connected to said bottom sump and operable in accordance with saidautomatically controlled cycle for removing liquid from said containerto a drain, prime mover means underneath said container for effectingthe washing of articles in said container and for operating selectivelysaid first and second pump means, water supply means incuding a conduitextending to an overlying position within an upper portion of saidcontainer below the open top thereof, said water supply means adapted bysaid automatically controlled cycle to supply water to said container ata predetermined fill level below the overlying position of said watersupply means, a flood control system for said washing machine to preventthe overflow of water from the open top of said container during saidwashing and rinsing operations and, thus, the contamination of saidwater supply means and said prime mover means by said overflow of water,said flood control system comprisng an imperforate tube member separatefrom said first and second pump means and formed into a siphon having asuction leg in communication with said container along the side thereofat a level both below the overlying position of said water supply meansand the open top of said container and a drain leg adapted forcommunication with a remote drain at a position below the level ofcommunication of said suction leg with said container, said tube memberhaving a bight portion with its highest point positioned at a floodlevel above said predetermined fill level and both below the overlyingposition of said water supply means and the open top of said container,thereby to drain said container to the level of communication of saidsuction leg with said container whenever a malfunction of saidautomatically controlled cycle effects a supply of water to saidcontainer at said flood level and before the supply of water effected bysaid malfunction overflows from the opentop of said container.

3. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycleincluding washing and rinsing operations, an open-top container forretaining water therein for articles to be washed, said container havinga bottom sump, first pump means connected to said open-top and saidbottom sump and operable in accordance with said automaticallycontrolled cycle for recirculating liquid to said container, second pumpmeans connected to said bottom sump and operable in accordance with saidautomatically controlled cycle: for removing liquid from said containerto a drain, prime mover means underneath said container for effectingthe washing of articles in said container and for operating selectivelysaid first and second pump means, water supply means including a conduitextending to an overlying position within an upper portion of saidcontainer below the open top thereof, said water supply means adapted bysaid automatically controlled cycle to supply water to said container ata predetermined fill level below the overlying position of said watersupply means, a flood control system for said washing machine to preventthe overflow of water from said container during said washing andrinsing operations and, thus, the contamination of said water supplymeans and said prime mover means by said overflow of water, said floodcontrol system comprising an imperforate tube member separate from saidfirst and second pump means and formed into a siphon having a suctionleg in communication with said container at a level below the over-lyingposition of said water supply means and a drain leg adapted forcommunication with a remote drain at a position below the level ofcommunication of said suction leg with said container, said tube memberhaving a bight portion with its highest point positioned at a floodlevel above said predetermined fill level and below the overlyingposition of said water supply means, thereby to drain said container tothe level of communication of said suction leg with said containerwhenever a malfunction of said automatically controlled cyle effects asupply of water to said container at said flood level, said drain leg ofsaid imperforate tube member including a flow restrictor therein toprevent the tube member from cavitating and breaking the siphon.

3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE @F CORRECTION V fatent No.3,785,181 Dated January 15, 1.974

lnventork'li) Melvin Menk It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown. below:

Column 1;

lines 8 9, "therefore" should read therefor line 17, "'befoe" beforeline 50, "19" 2U Column 2, line ?6 "thorugh" ehould reaci through Column3,

line 21, "to" ehould read for lines 65-66, "fastener" faster Column 4,

line 1 delete "the"; line 67, 'incuding" should read including Signedand sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. In a washing machine having an automatically controlled cycleincluding washing and rinsing operations, an open-top container forretaining water therein for articles to be washed, said container havinga bottom sump, first pump means connected to said open-top and saidbottom sump and operable in accordance with said automaticallycontrolled cycle for recirculating liquid to said container, second pumpmeans connected to said bottom sump and operable in accordance with saidautomatically controlled cycle for removing liquid from said containerto a drain, prime mover means underneath said container for effectingthe washing of articles in said container and for operating selectivelysaid first and second pump means, water supply means including a conduitextending to an overlying position within an upper portion of saidcontainer below the open top thereof, said water supply means adapted bysaid automatically controlled cycle to supply water to said container ata predetermined fill level below the overlying position of said watersupply means, a flood control system for said washing machine to preventthe overflow of water from said container during said washing andrinsing operations and thus the contamination of said water supply meansand said prime mover means by said overflow of water, said flood controlsystem comprising a tube member separate from said first and second pumpmeans and formed into a siphon having a suction leg in communicationwith a lower portion of said container at said predetermined fill leveland a drain leg adapted for communication with a remote drain at aposition below the level of communication of said suction leg with saidcontainer, said tube member having a bight portion with its highestpoint positioned at a flood level above said predetermined fill leveland below the overlying position of said water supply means, thereby todrain said container by siphoning to lower the level of water therein tosaid predetermined fill level whenever a malfunction of saidautomatically controlled cycle effects a supply of water to saidcontainer at said flood level, said drain leg including flow restrictormeans to prevent the tube member from cavitating and breaking the siphonwhen said container is draining by siphoning.
 2. In a washing machinehaving an automatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsingoperations, an open-top container for retaining water therein forarticles to be washed, said container having a bottom sump, first pumpmeans connected to said open-top and said bottom sump and operable inaccordance with said automatically controlled cycle for recirculatingliquid to said container, second pump means connected to said bottomsump and operable in accordance with said automatically controlled cyclefor removing liquid from said container to a drain, prime mover meansunderneath said container for effecting the washing of articles in saidcontainer and for operating selectively said first and second pumpmeans, water supply means incuding a conduit extending to an overlyingposition within an upper portion of said container below the open topthereof, said water supply means adapted by said automaticallycontrolled cycle to supply water to said container at a predeterminedfill level below the overlying position of said water supply means, aflood control system for said washing machine to prevent the overflow ofwater from the open top of said container during said washing andrinsing operations and, thus, the contamination of said water supplymeans and said prime mover means by said overflow of water, said floodcontrol system comprisng an imperforate tube member separate from saidfirst and second pump means and formed into a siphon having a suctionleg in communication with said container along the side thereof at alevel both below the overlying position of said water supply means andthe open top of said container and a drain leg adapted for communicationwith a remote drain at a position below the level of communication ofsaid suction leg with said container, said tube memBer having a bightportion with its highest point positioned at a flood level above saidpredetermined fill level and both below the overlying position of saidwater supply means and the open top of said container, thereby to drainsaid container to the level of communication of said suction leg withsaid container whenever a malfunction of said automatically controlledcycle effects a supply of water to said container at said flood leveland before the supply of water effected by said malfunction overflowsfrom the open-top of said container.
 3. In a washing machine having anautomatically controlled cycle including washing and rinsing operations,an open-top container for retaining water therein for articles to bewashed, said container having a bottom sump, first pump means connectedto said open-top and said bottom sump and operable in accordance withsaid automatically controlled cycle for recirculating liquid to saidcontainer, second pump means connected to said bottom sump and operablein accordance with said automatically controlled cycle for removingliquid from said container to a drain, prime mover means underneath saidcontainer for effecting the washing of articles in said container andfor operating selectively said first and second pump means, water supplymeans including a conduit extending to an overlying position within anupper portion of said container below the open top thereof, said watersupply means adapted by said automatically controlled cycle to supplywater to said container at a predetermined fill level below theoverlying position of said water supply means, a flood control systemfor said washing machine to prevent the overflow of water from saidcontainer during said washing and rinsing operations and, thus, thecontamination of said water supply means and said prime mover means bysaid overflow of water, said flood control system comprising animperforate tube member separate from said first and second pump meansand formed into a siphon having a suction leg in communication with saidcontainer at a level below the over-lying position of said water supplymeans and a drain leg adapted for communication with a remote drain at aposition below the level of communication of said suction leg with saidcontainer, said tube member having a bight portion with its highestpoint positioned at a flood level above said predetermined fill leveland below the overlying position of said water supply means, thereby todrain said container to the level of communication of said suction legwith said container whenever a malfunction of said automaticallycontrolled cyle effects a supply of water to said container at saidflood level, said drain leg of said imperforate tube member including aflow restrictor therein to prevent the tube member from cavitating andbreaking the siphon.